Site Products
Larry Hodges, table tennis coach

Are You Maximizing Your Service Spin?

Posted on

(by Larry Hodges)

When you practice your spin serves – and you do, right? – after a few minutes, your arm and wrist are tired and you’re sweating right? No? Then you aren’t putting in full effort and therefore not getting full spin.

When I say “tired” and “sweating,” there’s some literary license, but the point is that serving with great spin is rather physical. If you want to maximize your spin, you have to maximize your racket’s acceleration and speed, and the grazing motion.

Many players practice their serves with a focus on just control. Control is good, but it’s only one aspect of a spinny serve. You have to put in enough energy to really make that ball spin, and with all that racket speed, still graze the ball. It’s not as hard as it sounds, but it takes practice.

And if you are practicing your spin serves with less than maximum spin, then you are practicing serves that aren’t that spinny. It’s practice, so go for maximum spin, and learn to control it. With practice, you will do so, and then your spin serves will be a major weapon. Turn your practice room into the spin room!

Latest News

From Nervous to Focused: Real Competition Advice from Years of Professional Play

May 22, 2026
(by Coach Bob Chen) Practical ways to turn pressure into clear actions during a match. How to manage… Read More

Anqi Luo – Forehand Flip & Backhand Loop Follow up

May 22, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Anqi Lou is working with a student on a Forehand… Read More

WTT Youth Contender Mississauga

May 21, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) USA's Sally Moyland continued her consistent play this week at the WTT Youth… Read More

The Unstoppable Spin: Why We Can’t Quit Table Tennis? By Coach Di Liu

May 21, 2026
(By: Coach Di Liu) The Unstoppable Spin: Why We Can’t Quit Table Tennis? Have you ever found yourself… Read More

The Mental Edge That Won the World: Lessons from Team China at London 2026

May 20, 2026
(by Dr. Alan Chu, PhD, CMPC) The Mental Edge That Won the World: Lessons from Team China at… Read More

Chirag Pradhan – 2026 US Nationals Trials

May 19, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Chirag Pradhan is in action at the US Nationals Trials… Read More

Develop an Overpowering Strength

May 18, 2026
(By Larry Hodges, Member of US Table Tennis Hall of Fame At the beginning/intermediate levels, most matches are… Read More

Arantxa Cossio Aceves – Random Play

May 18, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips,  Arantxa Cossio Aceves is executing random play after a serve… Read More
View All News

Get the latest from Butterfly

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.